LAKEWOOD PITCH AND PUTT CLUB
Though the history of Lakewood Pitch and Putt Club dates back to its foundation year of 1973, the idea of a pitch and putt club had been formed by the John A. Wood Ltd. Sports and Social Club as early as 1970. In that year the club received a site from the John A. Wood ltd. company to develop into a Sports Area for the use of employees. A Soccer Pitch and a G.A.A. Pitch were laid out almost immediately, and it was decided under the chairmanship of Liam O’Connor to put the wheels in motion towards building a nine hole Pitch and Putt Course. The intention would be to add the second nine holes at a later date when the game became established.
In September 1971, the then chairman of the Cork County Board, the late Tom O’Shea of DouglasLimerick. By October of 1971 Paddy Harkins of Rocklodge had become Chairman of Cork County Board and he arranged a meeting with Pat Dalton on November 6th, at which he and members of the Sports and Social Club would be present. This historic meeting led to the selection of the site of the current course. It was approved by Pat Dalton, himself an architect, who expressed delight with the situation and forecast that it would become a championship course. The Social Club members present at this meeting were: Billy Lyons, Frank O’Reilly, and Liam O’Connor. Pat Dalton designed the course and after many months of hard work by the Sports and Social members, the dream became a reality on the 18th August 1973 when a nine hole course was opened by President of the Union Paddy Harkins. was contacted. He advised the Sports and Social Club committee to contact the then President of the P.P.U.I. Paddy who figured earlier as Chairman of Cork Couny Board , later joined Lakewood and became club captain in 1978.
The first Lakewood committee was formed on the 15th November 1973. Danny Murphy, currently one of our Vice-Presidents, was the first Chairman of the Club, Jim McEvoy was elected Secretary, and Geney McCarthy was elected Treasurer. Also elected to the first committee was Tim Lucey vice-chairman who has been a constant member of the committee since its foundation, and is currently President of the Club, Pat O’Connor Registrar who gave many years of service to the club, and Frank Collins who served as Treasurer of the club until his untimely death in 1988.
The headquarters of the club at this stage was a green hut owned by Ovens Athletic Club which was left conveniently near the course. Even though it could only hold about four people, it remained as a competitions office until a Sports and Social clubhouse was built in 1975. This hut still happily resides on the course and is used as a storehouse for maintenance equipment.
An inexperienced committee in pitch and putt affairs kept the club going through 1974, meeting every fortnight in the John A. Wood Ltd. canteen. The 1974 Annual General Meeting saw Tim Lucey elected to the position of Chairman, and in March 1975 when the elected secretary resigned he introduced John Coleman straight into the position of Secretary.
In 1975 the course was extended to eighteen holes, and this coincided with our first Open Week-End. From a very shaky beginning the club continued to prosper. The Sports and Social clubhouse became our headquarters and it was used for our fortnightly meetings and club presentations. In older days it was a cattle shed and was converted by the John A Wood Ltd Company for the use of Social Club members. In 1984 it was decided by the Sports and Social Club to apply for a bar license and to accommodate this move a clubhouse with a ground floor only was built by the Social club on our current site.
In 1990 a computerised water system was laid by our then Gents Captain Tony Carroll. In 1993 the clubhouse was renovated, to provide an upstairs view of the course and better toilet facilities. A loan of £18,000 was taken out and was paid back in three years thanks to a club lotto which proved to be a most successful venture.
Over the years, many Cork and Munster Championships have been won, mainly by our ladies, and they continue to outshine the men. The National breakthrough came in 1990 when we had two youthful champions. David O’Donovan won the National Juvenile Strokeplay Championship and Teresa Conway, daughter of Pat and the late Dan Conway, won the short-lived National Ladies Junior Matchplay Championship.
Ours Juvenile Club, though not as strong as former years, is beginning to show signs of a revival. Much success was brought to the club under the guidance of Juvenile Officers Rene O’Shea and Eileen Murphy, including the entire Cork Juvenile Inter-County team, represented by Lakewood players in 1994.
Lakewood has contributed officers to Cork, Munster and the N.E.C. John Coleman has served as Secretary of Munster Council, P.R.O. of the Cork County Board, on Central Council, and was Honorary Auditor of the Pitch and Putt Union until his resignation at the 2007 National Convention. Dan Conway R.I.P. served as Vice-President of Munster Council and served on Central Council. Paddy Kelleher R.I.P. served as Vice-Chairman and Chairman of Cork County Board, Competitions Secretary and President of Munster Council, and also served on Central Council. Steven Enneguess has served as Vice-Chairman of Cork County Board, and as Competitions Secretary and Vice-President of Munster. Steven is also a licensed coach with the PPUI, and has brought his coaching skills all over Munster.
The Lakewood club has been blessed by Officers and committee members who have given long years of service to the club. John Coleman has served as Secretary from March 1975 to date. Frank Collins became Treasurer in 1975 and up to the time of his death in 1988 looked after the financial affairs of the club. His wife Sheila took over the role of Treasurer, and has held the position to date. Sheila received a Cork County Board personality awarded at the 2005 Convention in recognition of her service to the club. She joined Eudie McCarthy, Joe Kavanagh, and John Coleman, who also have been honoured by the Board. Many committee members over the years have contributed to the growth of the club, including current long serving members Bart Millard, Jim O’Shea and John O’Donoghue, who have given over twenty years of continuous service.
Lakewood has hosted eight national competitions and in 2007 will host its ninth national championship, when the Ladies and Gents Inter-County Championships will be played in September. The previous eight were: 1983 – Ladies Strokeplay. 1987 – Gents Matchplay. 1991 – Ladies Matchplay. 1993 – Inter-County. 1997 – Mixed Team Event. 1999 – Ladies and Gents Matchplay. 2003 – Ladies Strokeplay. 2006 – Juvenile Inter – County and Juvenile Strokeplay.
Over the years the growth and strength of the Pitch and Putt Club has been supported by the John A Wood Ltd Sports and Social Club who through the John A Wood Ltd Company supply us with our magnificent facilities. All of the other clubs in the John A Wood Ltd Sports and Social group carry the Lakewood name and are very strong units, catering for Soccer, Tennis, Badminton, and Snooker. There is a bar facility open to all affiliated members, and on Tuesday night there is a Progressive 45 Drive.
Frank Riordan who is in his tenth year as chairman of the club leads the following committee into what should be an exciting 2010.
President: Joe Kavanagh. Vice Presidents: Danny Murphy, Jo McCarthy, Jim O'Shea. Chairman: Frank Riordan. Vice-Chairman: Gretchen Ahern. Secretary: John Coleman. Treasurer: Sheila Collins. Competitions Secretary: Garry Cotter. P.R.O.: David Twomey. Club Coach: John Ahern. Lady Captain: Mary O'Donovan. Lady Vice-Captain: Gretchen Ahern. Gents Captain: Mick O'Leary. Gents Vice-Captain: David Twomey. General Committee: Pat Conway, Valerie O'Leary, Paddy Dennehy, Pat Twomey, Bart Millard, Eileen Murphy, John O'Donoghue, Rene O'Shea.